SALEM – Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) has introduced House Bill 3176, named Dalton’s Law, in honor of the late Dalton Robertson. Dalton was a close friend of Representative Nelson’s family.
In 2005, Dalton Robertson disappeared, along with his brand new car. The car did not yet have license plates, but was equipped with LoJack. Despite requests by Dalton’s mother and local law enforcement, LoJack was unable to provide information on the whereabouts of the vehicle without permission from Dalton himself. Dalton was found dead five days later; the coroner’s report indicated Dalton died earlier that day.
“It is such a tragedy, and it might have been stopped had emergency services been able to use the information available from his automobile,” said Representative Nelson. “I’m bringing Dalton’s Law to Oregon to help prevent this from happening again, to help save lives.”
House Bill 3176 would give emergency personnel the ability to obtain information from telematic service providers, the companies providing such services as LoJack and OnStar for the owners of new automobiles, when there is probable cause to believe lives are in danger. “This is as appropriate as the Amber Alert System,” Representative Nelson stated. “It takes the search for a missing person from a needle-in-a-haystack to a precise search and rescue—and it protects service providers who risk liability from providing customer information.”
House Bill 3176 has bipartisan support in the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Representative Nelson is currently working with Oregon’s law enforcement community to help garner additional support for Dalton’s Law.
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Friday, March 23, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
Why I voted no
I write today to explain the reasons for my vote in opposition to House Bill 2700 on March 15, 2007. While I support the use of prescription birth control as a form of contraception, and recognize that available contraception will reduce unwanted pregnancies—and therefore reduce abortion—a number of flaws with House Bill 2700 made it impossible to support.
The definition of “emergency contraception” included in the bill is dangerously vague. The definition is “a drug or device that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse.” Nothing in this definition restricts use of emergency contraception to a specific time period following intercourse. Nor does the definition strictly limit emergency contraception to a treatment that prevents conception from taking place. This vagueness could result in requiring health care providers to give treatment outside the scope of legislative intent. Any treatment performed after conception affects not just the patient, but also the human embryo growing within. Because of this vagueness, I could not support House Bill 2700.
Furthermore, House Bill 2700 includes a requirement that a “student health insurance policy” provide coverage or reimbursement for prescription contraceptives. Student health insurance policies are intended to provide medical insurance to college and university students who do not otherwise have available health care. However, not everyone attending college or university is over the age of 18. House Bill 2700 could require the dispensing of prescription contraception to children under the age of 18. This is incompatible with public policy and laws concerning sexual intercourse with minors. Sexual intercourse with a minor under age 18 is statutory rape, and is illegal in Oregon. I believe that House Bill 2700, by allowing minors to obtain prescription contraception, would amount to a state endorsement of sexual intercourse by children under the age of 18. Because I believe my duty as a State Representative is to protect our children and uphold the law, I could not support House Bill 2700.
Finally, House Bill 2700 is an unfunded mandate on health insurance providers. Unfunded mandates increase costs to consumers. Presently, employers can choose to offer employees health insurance plans that offer coverage for contraception. Likewise, individuals are free to obtain private health insurance plans of their own. Ultimately, every person can choose to purchase contraceptive drugs and devices out-of-pocket. The ability to choose which benefits will comprise a health insurance plan results in the lowest possible cost to the consumer. House Bill 2700 would take the power of choice away from the people. The net effect of the bill might help one segment of the population afford contraception, but would at the same time make the overall cost of health care more for all Oregonians. While I support more available and accessible contraception, a mandate that places a burden on health insurance providers is not the answer.
For all these reasons, I voted NAY on House Bill 2700.
The definition of “emergency contraception” included in the bill is dangerously vague. The definition is “a drug or device that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse.” Nothing in this definition restricts use of emergency contraception to a specific time period following intercourse. Nor does the definition strictly limit emergency contraception to a treatment that prevents conception from taking place. This vagueness could result in requiring health care providers to give treatment outside the scope of legislative intent. Any treatment performed after conception affects not just the patient, but also the human embryo growing within. Because of this vagueness, I could not support House Bill 2700.
Furthermore, House Bill 2700 includes a requirement that a “student health insurance policy” provide coverage or reimbursement for prescription contraceptives. Student health insurance policies are intended to provide medical insurance to college and university students who do not otherwise have available health care. However, not everyone attending college or university is over the age of 18. House Bill 2700 could require the dispensing of prescription contraception to children under the age of 18. This is incompatible with public policy and laws concerning sexual intercourse with minors. Sexual intercourse with a minor under age 18 is statutory rape, and is illegal in Oregon. I believe that House Bill 2700, by allowing minors to obtain prescription contraception, would amount to a state endorsement of sexual intercourse by children under the age of 18. Because I believe my duty as a State Representative is to protect our children and uphold the law, I could not support House Bill 2700.
Finally, House Bill 2700 is an unfunded mandate on health insurance providers. Unfunded mandates increase costs to consumers. Presently, employers can choose to offer employees health insurance plans that offer coverage for contraception. Likewise, individuals are free to obtain private health insurance plans of their own. Ultimately, every person can choose to purchase contraceptive drugs and devices out-of-pocket. The ability to choose which benefits will comprise a health insurance plan results in the lowest possible cost to the consumer. House Bill 2700 would take the power of choice away from the people. The net effect of the bill might help one segment of the population afford contraception, but would at the same time make the overall cost of health care more for all Oregonians. While I support more available and accessible contraception, a mandate that places a burden on health insurance providers is not the answer.
For all these reasons, I voted NAY on House Bill 2700.
Friday, March 9, 2007
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
David Gulliver
(503) 986-1424
Representative Nelson Supports Rainy Day Fund
SALEM – Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) voted yes on House Bill 2031 and House Bill 2707, laying the groundwork for Oregon’s first Rainy Day Fund.
“One of the most important aspects of budgeting is planning ahead for a time when funds are short,” Representative Nelson stated. “By voting yes on these bills, we have both created a seed fund and created an additional revenue source to begin saving money for the future.”
House Bill 2031 and House Bill 2707 change the Oregon corporate tax structure and provide for a one-time suspension of the corporate “kicker” to provide money for the fund. The business community has been largely supportive of both measures.
Now that the two bills have passed the House of Representatives, they must be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the Governor by March 16 in order to become effective. As a protective measure, both bills must become law in order for either to take effect. This will prevent Oregon from simply increasing taxation without saving.
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David Gulliver
(503) 986-1424
Representative Nelson Supports Rainy Day Fund
SALEM – Oregon State Representative Donna Nelson (R-McMinnville) voted yes on House Bill 2031 and House Bill 2707, laying the groundwork for Oregon’s first Rainy Day Fund.
“One of the most important aspects of budgeting is planning ahead for a time when funds are short,” Representative Nelson stated. “By voting yes on these bills, we have both created a seed fund and created an additional revenue source to begin saving money for the future.”
House Bill 2031 and House Bill 2707 change the Oregon corporate tax structure and provide for a one-time suspension of the corporate “kicker” to provide money for the fund. The business community has been largely supportive of both measures.
Now that the two bills have passed the House of Representatives, they must be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the Governor by March 16 in order to become effective. As a protective measure, both bills must become law in order for either to take effect. This will prevent Oregon from simply increasing taxation without saving.
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